The Open Heaven 17 June 2026 devotional for today is CHILDREN BELONG TO GOD.
This is a daily devotion written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
OPEN HEAVEN 17 JUNE 2026 TODAY DEVOTIONAL
TOPIC: CHILDREN BELONG TO GOD
MEMORISE:
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: And the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Psalm 127:3
READ: Judges 13:6-14
6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
8 Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
9 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.
11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.
12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?
13 And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.
14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.
RCCG OPEN HEAVEN 17 JUNE 2026 TODAY MESSAGE
Many years ago, when my children were still little, one of them fell terribly ill. We had already made Jesus our Great Physician, so whenever anyone fell sick in our family, we would simply pray, and God would heal the fellow.
In this instance, however, I prayed to God, worshipped Him, and did everything I knew to do for the boy’s health to be restored, but he did not get better. In my frustration, I asked, “Lord, why have You refused to heal my son?” and God responded, “He is your son; why don’t you heal him yourself?” I immediately realised my mistake and said, “I’m sorry, Lord, he is Your son; please heal Your son.” Within an hour, the boy was back on his feet, playing around.
Parents do not own their children; they are only caretakers. Children are gifts from God, so the owner of children is God Himself (Psalm 127:3); therefore, they are to be taken care of according to His will. Parents who fail to realise that their children belong to God will tend to raise them contrary to His plan. When an angel appeared to Manoah and his wife to tell them that they would give birth to a son, Manoah asked a crucial question that every parent should ask about the children God gives them:
…How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him? Judges 13:12
Manoah understood that the child they were about to give birth to was from God and belonged to Him.
He knew that he was limited as a person in knowing the best way to teach and nurture the child. After asking the crucial question above, the angel gave him and his wife specific instructions on what to avoid during her pregnancy and how to raise the child after birth.
Parents should not lean on their understanding when raising children. They should not try to raise the children God has committed into their care the way others are doing it, because He has customised instructions for raising every child. If you are a parent, ask God to show you how He wants you to raise His child(ren) in your custody.
Furthermore, don’t be tempted to own the child(ren) God has put in your care. Always involve Him in your decisions concerning His child(ren), and He will help you to raise them to fulfil His purpose for their lives, in Jesus’ name.
KEY POINT:
Parents must let God guide them in how to raise the children He has entrusted to their care.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Psalms 69-72
Open Heavens HYMN 33: GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH!
OPEN HEAVEN DEVOTIONAL 17 JUNE 2026 COMMENTARY
MEMORISE: Psalm 127:3
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
This verse establishes the divine ownership of children. Daddy Adeboye anchors today’s devotional on this text because it corrects a fundamental misunderstanding among parents. The word “heritage” (or “inheritance”) indicates something given in trust, not something owned outright. Children are not possessions; they are a sacred trust from God. They are “His reward”—meaning God is the giver, and He remains the ultimate owner. Parents are stewards, caretakers, and guardians, but never owners. Every parent who forgets this will raise their children according to their own wisdom rather than God’s purpose.
BIBLE READING: Judges 13:6-14
This passage tells the story of the angelic announcement of Samson’s birth. Manoah and his wife were barren, but God sent an angel to tell them they would have a son. When Manoah heard this, he did not assume he knew how to raise the child. Instead, he asked a crucial question: “How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?” (Judges 13:12). The angel gave specific instructions: the mother must not drink wine or strong drink, eat anything unclean, or cut the child’s hair. Daddy Adeboye uses this to show that God has customized instructions for every child. Parents who do not seek those instructions will raise their children in their own limited understanding rather than God’s perfect plan.
Daddy Adeboye’s Testimony: The Son Who Would Not Heal
1. The Family’s Prayer Habit
Daddy Adeboye shares a powerful personal testimony about his own child:
“Many years ago, when my children were still little, one of them fell terribly ill. We had already made Jesus our Great Physician, so whenever anyone fell sick in our family, we would simply pray, and God would heal the fellow.”
This was the family’s established pattern. Prayer was their first resort, not their last. Daddy Adeboye had seen God heal repeatedly. He expected the same result.
“In this instance, however, I prayed to God, worshipped Him, and did everything I knew to do for the boy’s health to be restored, but he did not get better.”
Daddy Adeboye did everything he knew. He prayed. He worshipped. He used all the spiritual tools that had worked before. But the boy remained sick.
2. The Lord’s Correction
“In my frustration, I asked, ‘Lord, why have You refused to heal my son?’ and God responded, ‘He is your son; why don’t you heal him yourself?’”
This response is stunning. God was not refusing to heal. God was pointing out a fundamental error in Daddy Adeboye’s thinking: ownership.
| Daddy Adeboye’s Words | God’s Correction |
|---|---|
| “My son” (possession, ownership) | “He is your son” (acknowledging the claim of ownership) |
| “Why have You refused to heal my son?” | “Why don’t you heal him yourself?” (If he is yours, the responsibility is yours) |
“I immediately realised my mistake and said, ‘I’m sorry, Lord, he is Your son; please heal Your son.’ Within an hour, the boy was back on his feet, playing around.”
The moment Daddy Adeboye corrected his confession—from “my son” to “Your son”—the healing came. Within one hour. This is not magic; it is alignment with divine truth. God heals His own children. When you acknowledge that your children belong to Him, He takes full responsibility for them.
The Parent as Caretaker, Not Owner
1. The Biblical Foundation (Psalm 127:3)
“Parents do not own their children; they are only caretakers. Children are gifts from God, so the owner of children is God Himself; therefore, they are to be taken care of according to His will.”
| Wrong Mindset (Owner) | Right Mindset (Caretaker) |
|---|---|
| “This is my child, I will raise them my way” | “This is God’s child, entrusted to me for a season” |
| “I know what is best for my child” | “God knows what is best; I must seek His instructions” |
| “My child, my rules, my plans” | “God’s child, God’s rules, God’s plans” |
| Anxiety about the child’s future | Trust in the true Owner’s faithfulness |
“Parents who fail to realise that their children belong to God will tend to raise them contrary to His plan.”
This is the tragedy of modern parenting. Believing they own their children, parents make decisions based on culture, convenience, ambition, or fear—entirely missing God’s customized plan for that specific child.
2. Manoah’s Model Question (Judges 13:12)
“Manoah understood that the child they were about to give birth to was from God and belonged to Him. He knew that he was limited as a person in knowing the best way to teach and nurture the child.”
| Manoah’s Humility | The Common Parental Error |
|---|---|
| “I don’t know how to raise this child properly” | “I know what’s best for my child” |
| “God, You give the instructions” | “Culture, peers, and my parents will guide me” |
| The child belongs to God, so God’s plan matters most | The child is mine, so my plan matters most |
“After asking the crucial question above, the angel gave him and his wife specific instructions on what to avoid during her pregnancy and how to raise the child after birth.”
God answered Manoah. God will answer you. But you must ask the question: “Lord, how shall I order this child?”
Every Child Has Customised Instructions
1. No Cookie-Cutter Parenting
“Parents should not lean on their understanding when raising children. They should not try to raise the children God has committed into their care the way others are doing it, because He has customised instructions for raising every child.”
| What Works for One Child | What Another Child Needs |
|---|---|
| Strict discipline | Gentle guidance |
| Academic pressure | Vocational encouragement |
| Early independence | Extended nurturing |
| Public school | Homeschool or Christian school |
| Many extracurriculars | Focused development of one gift |
“If you are a parent, ask God to show you how He wants you to raise His child(ren) in your custody.”
This is not a suggestion; it is a command. Parenting without divine consultation is parenting in the dark. You cannot raise a child for a destiny you do not know.
2. What Customised Instructions May Include
Based on Manoah’s experience and Scripture, God’s instructions for raising a child may involve:
| Area | Possible Divine Instruction |
|---|---|
| Spiritual | “Set this child apart from birth; do not let them follow worldly patterns” |
| Educational | “This child needs a different school, a different approach, or a different timing” |
| Social | “Protect this child from certain friendships; expose them to certain mentors” |
| Vocational | “This child is not for medicine/law/business; I have another path” |
| Discipline | “Do not break this child’s spirit; do not be too lenient; find the balance” |
Practical Steps for Raising God-Owned Children
Based on Daddy Adeboye’s teaching and Manoah’s example, here is how to parent as a caretaker:
1. Change Your Confession
Stop saying “my child” as if you are the owner. Say:
- “The child God has entrusted to me”
- “God’s child in my care”
- “The heritage of the Lord”
Your confession shapes your mentality. When you speak of your children as God’s property, you will treat them as God’s property.
2. Ask the Crucial Question
Daddy Adeboye instructs:
“Always involve Him in your decisions concerning His child(ren).”
For every major decision (and many minor ones), ask God:
- “How shall I discipline this child?”
- “What school should they attend?”
- “What friends should I encourage or discourage?”
- “What gifts are hidden in them that I need to develop?”
- “What battles should I fight for them, and what battles should they fight themselves?”
3. Receive Specific Instructions
Do not settle for general principles. Manoah did not ask for general parenting advice. He asked for specific instructions for this child. God gave them. Expect the same.
| How God May Speak | Examples |
|---|---|
| Through Scripture | A verse that leaps off the page about parenting |
| Through the Holy Spirit | An inner conviction or peace about a direction |
| Through godly counsel | A pastor, elder, or experienced parent who speaks wisdom |
| Through circumstances | Doors opening or closing that confirm a path |
4. Follow the Instructions Even When They Don’t Make Sense
The angel’s instructions to Manoah included things that seemed unusual (no razor on the child’s head, no wine for the mother during pregnancy). Similarly, God’s instructions for your child may not align with what other parents are doing. Obey anyway.
5. Trust the True Owner with the Results
When you acknowledge that your children belong to God, your anxiety decreases. You are not ultimately responsible for how they turn out—God is. You are responsible for obedience; He is responsible for the outcome.
Warning: The Danger of Owning Your Children
Daddy Adeboye’s testimony contains an implicit warning:
| If You Act Like the Owner | Consequences |
|---|---|
| You raise them according to your wisdom, not God’s | They may miss their destiny |
| You carry burdens you were never meant to carry | Anxiety, frustration, burnout |
| You pray with wrong assumptions | Prayers go unanswered (as Daddy Adeboye’s healing prayer was initially unanswered) |
| You will be held accountable for misusing God’s property | “Who then is the faithful and wise steward?” (Luke 12:42) |
“Don’t be tempted to own the child(ren) God has put in your care.”
The temptation is strong. You carried them, birthed them, fed them, sacrificed for them. It feels like they are yours. But the feeling is deceit. They are His. He just let you borrow them for a time.
Additional Principles for Raising God’s Children
1. Dedicate Them Back to God
Like Hannah dedicated Samuel (1 Samuel 1:27-28), publicly and privately declare: “Lord, this child is Yours. I am only a caretaker.”
2. Pray for Them Specifically
Do not pray generic prayers: “Lord, bless my child.” Pray: “Lord, show me how to raise this specific child. Reveal their purpose. Protect Your plan for their life.”
3. Correct Your Confession When You Slip
Every time you catch yourself saying “my child” with a sense of ownership, stop and correct it: “Lord, I mean Your child whom You have entrusted to me.”
4. Involve God in the Small Things
Manoah asked about ordering the child before the child was born. Do not wait for crises. Involve God in daily decisions: bedtimes, screen limits, friendships, discipline.
5. Release Them When the Time Comes
One day, God may call His child away from your home—to another city, another country, another vocation, or even to Himself in death. Because they are His, you must release them without bitterness.
Conclusion: Your Prayer for God’s Children in Your Care
Daddy Adeboye closes with a prayer that God will help you raise His children to fulfill His purpose. Pray this prayer over every child in your care.
Pray this:
“Father, I thank You for the precious children You have entrusted to me. Forgive me for the times I have acted as if they belong to me—making decisions without consulting You, carrying burdens You never gave me, and forgetting that they are Yours first. Today, I repent. I acknowledge that these children are Your heritage, not my possessions. I ask You the question Manoah asked: ‘How shall I order this child? How shall I do unto them?’ Give me customized instructions for each one. Show me how to discipline, educate, nurture, and release them for Your purpose. I will not lean on my understanding. I will not raise them the way the world raises children. I will follow Your instructions, even when they seem unusual. And I trust You, the true Owner, with their future. In Jesus’ mighty name.”
Action Steps:
- The Ownership Audit: Examine your heart. Do you secretly think of your children as your property? Write down the areas where you have made decisions without consulting God. Confess the sin of ownership.
- The Manoah Question: Set aside one hour this week to pray specifically for each child (or future child) in your care. Ask God: “How shall I order this child?” Write down whatever impression, Scripture, or instruction comes to mind. Act on it.
- The Confession Change: For the next 30 days, deliberately refer to your children as “God’s child in my care” rather than “my child.” Let your words retrain your heart.
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” (Psalm 127:3)
You are not the owner; you are the caretaker. Ask God for His instructions. Raise His children for His purpose. And watch Him take full responsibility for His own.
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